An FIR was today registered in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in awarding 'piece contract' in Upper Krishna project during 1995-98, police said.

The FIR, which does not name anyone, has been filed by police on the request by the CID to investigate those involved in the irregularities.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was Karnataka Chief Minister during 1994-1996 before he became the Prime Minister.

A Joint Legislature Committee headed by then MLA, Vaijanath Patil had found irregularities in award of piece contracts to the tune of Rs 400 crore and recommended a CBI investigation.

Then Chief Minister late J H Patel, who succeeded Gowda, had refused to accept the recommendation.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy described the FIR as an act of "political witch hunting".

Reacting to the police action, he alleged that some officials were behind the registration of the FIR.

"The officials have done it under pressure from some quarters after I brought up a series of exposes against the BJP government. It is nothing but political witch hunting", Kumaraswamy told reporters.

A case was filed against a person alleging that ten years ago he threatened a candidate asking him not to appear for an interview, he said, in an apparent reference to the arrest of former state Information Commissioner H N Krishna in connection with alleged irregularities during his tenure as Chairman of the State Public Service Commission.

However, Kumaraswamy did not name Krishna, saying "it is before court now".

Kumaraswamy, sons of Deve Gowda, hit out at police saying they had registered the FIR without naming anyone. "But they will bring up names at a later stage", he said.